244 HILLS AND LAKES. 



one, under such circumstances, and he was so disabled 

 he couldn't get at me. Both his hind legs was broke, 

 by a shot I gave him, but he told me plain enough, 

 that if he'd been well, 'twould have been an onpleasant 

 neighborhood for me. I've hearn tell of the lightnin' 

 in the ejes of a furious animal, and I reckon I saw it 

 in his, and glad enough I was, to stand back, out of 

 his reach. I settled him with a bullet through the 

 head. Unless provoked or starved, he won't med- 

 dle with a man. Let him alone, and he'll let you 

 alone. Like all other animals of his kind, he's got 

 more strength than courage, and unless cornered, don't 

 like to fight. I never feel afraid of painters. I've 

 shot a good many, first and last, but as a general 

 thing I shouldn't meddle with 'em unless I could have 

 a dead shot. Woundin' a painter, or a bear, is a bad 

 business, as I've heard, and I've let 'em escape afore 

 now, when' I wasn't sure of killin' 'em at the first shot. 

 They're most all gone now, and it's only once in a 

 great while, that we hear of one. Five and twenty 

 years age it warn't much of a thing to brag on, to 

 bring in the skin of a painter, or a bear. But they're 

 passin' away, and it won't be long till we'll have to look 

 into histoij for an account of 'em, as well as of the 



